new ride

We upgraded Hendrix to his big boy carseat and he has been quite the happy camper when we go places in the car.  I think he likes having more space, as his legs were starting to get kind of cramped in the carrier.  I also think it lets him sit up more and he likes seeing everything around him (don't worry, he is still rear-facing).

It is really nice to not haul around the extra bulk and weight of the carrier carseat, though it does make juggling everything else in my arms just a bit more complicated.

Then there is the napping issue.

I didn't realize how much I relied on him falling asleep while I am just out running errands, and then staying asleep because I can leave him in his carrier with a blanket over it for the next hour or so.  While I have tried to very carefully transport him from the seat to his crib/stroller/playpen, it has been mostly unsuccessful.  This makes for a tired little fella.  

I hope we can get this ironed out with either a better routine, or a more sound sleeper.  ;)  The latter would be easier on momma.......

More Shots

Hendrix still doesn't like shots.  I have to say that this time was a lot better than last time, but he still was awfully pitiful and whiny.  I gave him a dose of tylenol before his appointment to prevent a really terrible screaming fit like last time and that seemed to help.  By the time Daddy got home from work he was almost back to his normal disposition.  He even splashed and laughed in a warm bath this evening before bed.  

This was how his day started.  

He left with me for work still in his jammies because I had to wake him up to take him.  Yes, he slept in until 8:15 a.m. this morning (and I don't know how late he might have slept if I didn't wake him up!)  I hated having to wake him up to take him out in the sub-zero degree weather.....but he was all smiles in spite of that!

I am not sure what to expect from his sleeping habits in the near future though because his doctor put the kibosh on swaddling him.  I know.  It's terrible.  He loves being swaddled.  That is the only way he has slept since he was born.  Apparently since he is so big now, and he is able to roll it is no longer safe to keep swaddling.  Now we have to just lay him in his bed with no blankets at all, and he is supposed to just go to sleep?!?  I will let you all know how that transition goes......but we didn't start it tonight.  I thought the shots rocked his world enough.  We'll cross that bridge tomorrow.  or the next day.......

Here is some footage also from earlier today when he was playing on the floor.  He is so in love with his butterfly that it really cracks me up!

So his weight?  Fabulous!  

He is now 15 pounds 14 ounces; which is in the 63rd percentile, 25 inches long which is in the 45th percentile, and has a 42 cm head diameter which is in the 37th percentile. 

 All the numbers are great and the doctor was thrilled with his progress.  We still have a few pounds to go before he outgrows his infant seat carrier so I am going to try to put the transition to the stationary car seat off another month or so; it is just so much easier to bundle him up and also nice to be able to leave him sleeping in it while I take him into the store or on other errands.  

As for other milestones - the doctor was really pleased with his strength.  While laying on his tummy he pushes his head up really high, and while on his back he can support his own head if he is pulled up by the arms.  He has a firm grasp and does a great job of responding to being talked to - either with a smile or with talking of his own.  She said that he should start being more interested in the sitting position now, and the next big feat will be passing a toy from one hand to the other.

He just got a bumbo seat and seemed pretty interested in it when we tried it out. 

Until Mom took one too many pictures and he got bored....

Isn't that sad face just precious though?  lol

So I was excited about the bumbo seat because I thought it might be a really nice transportable highchair for me to take to work for him.  I was sort of hoping to get the okay to  start him on food at his appointment today; and while the doctor said that we do have her blessing if we really want to start him on cereal, she would rather that we wait until more like 5 or 5 1/2 months.  shoot. 

It is going so fast as it is though, it would be silly for me to wish the days away.  I will wait patiently. :)  Well, sort of.

Some Comparisons

This movie was taken yesterday of Hendrix.  I started noticing how large he was looking on his playmat and it made me want to compare him to what he was like the last time I took a movie of him playing on it.  

This is from when he was only 2 weeks old......I can't believe how much he is changing!

  

1.5 weeks

2.5 weeks

 

5.5 weeks

7.5 weeks

Same story with his carseat; we had to put all the straps on the smallest setting possible to bring him home from the hospital.....and now he doesn't need any headrests, and he needs to have the straps readjusted because his shoulders are up too high for the current setting.  

I am loving all his faces!

He is starting to actually respond with smiles and even a little cooing when we talk to him while he is playing.  I love it!  :)

We are home!

Hendrix was discharged from the hospital yesterday right around lunchtime.  Right before we left he got a bath and we got him dressed up in a really cute outfit for hospital pictures.  During the bath he peed all over th nurse, which was really funny!  We enjoyed getting to watch him get the bath, so now we know how to do it at home :)

He was't really all that cooperative in the pictures, but he was wide awake so at least we got to see his eyes.  He didn't want to keep his head looking the right direction - I don't think he likes the flash.

We had a little trouble getting the carseat to the right setting to put him in it.  He is so little that everything had to be on the lowest and tightest setting, and he got a little impatient with us while we were trying to get it ready for him.

Then, just before we left, he had a leaky diaper and peed all the way through his shirt, pants and blanket.  Luckily I had packed lots of clothes and we got him changed into something just as cute!  

And off we were!

We were so happy to be leaving, and so thankful for the fabulous nursing staff that helped teach us how to take good care of him.  I got a hug from the NICU nurse who was working when we left, and I realized that a small part of me will miss having them readily available to help me, teach me, and encourage me.  Now we venture on this new chapter just the three of us.

We took our 8 day old, 5 lbs. 10 oz. son home finally!  Daddy was so excited to carry him into our home for the first time.  He immediately got him "unpacked" out of the carseat and snuggling into his bassinet.  He seemed to like his new environment alot. :)


Later in the afternoon he got visits from his Nanna O'Polka, and many of his aunts and uncles on the O'Polka side.  He was definitely the star of the day, and everyone enjoyed holding him and staring at him.  

Hendrix really liked his nursery.  

All wrapped up like a little burrito, and I can't believe how tiny he looks in his crib!

Daddy was so excited to spend so much time with his son, and he was really helpful during all the nighttime feedings.  It was nice that we got to sleep in until 9 am this morning, and Daddy didn't have to leave to go to work!  We could all get used to this :)


I can't wait to get used to our new normal.

Lazy Day as a Family

We didn't get discharged from the hospital today as we had hoped, but we did enjoy a long day of hanging out as a family!

Hendrix only weighed 5 lbs. 8 oz. at his weigh-in last night, so he didn't quite reach the milestone of gaining weight yet.  He did however pass the carseat test (which was where they had him sit in the carseat for an hour with a monitor checking his oxygen levels to ensure that it would be safe for him to ride in).  Apparently this can be an issue for little preemies, so we are glad that he did well!  The carseat is sitting in the nursery as a reminder that we are close to going home, we just have to be patient.


In the meantime, he has been spending 3 hour stretches of time in our room with us in between feedings, and we are finally feeling like we are getting to know our son.  We get to hear the little noises when he sleeps, we get to snuggle with him when he is stirring, and we get to show him off to those who come to see us.  He still gets worn out pretty quickly, so we are trying to just take family visitors while we are still at the hospital; but he got to see his Aunt Kate last night for the first time.

He also got to enjoy some serious cuddles this afternoon with Grandma Nancy.

I have enjoyed some precious moments with him as we have been trying to make more progress with the breastfeeding.  Today he was able to nurse several times, along with taking the 50 mls of pumped milk that they want to see him consuming.  We have found that he can be a bit of a lazy eater in the late morning - afternoon hours, but is much more alert and vigorous about eating in the evenings and nighttime hours.  A Lactation Consultant has been working with me to figure out how to manage my pumping (because I was actually producing WAY more than he can keep up with - in fact, we have already taken like 12 bottles of pumped milk home to put in our freezer.......) and also to help us be effective at helping him gain weight.  They weighed him this afternoon just to see if it looked like he was making progress, and he was up to 5lbs. 10 oz.  Now that isn't the official report - that will be at Midnight - but he still has one more feeding between now and then to hopefully boost that number, or at the very least to keep it steady. :)

Hendrix also enjoyed some special time watching football with Daddy today.  to be honest, I think he was thoroughly uninterested, but Daddy was okay with that!  lol

Since it was the big Iowa - Iowa State football game (and Bud and I both cheer for opposing teams) we compromised and allowed our son the chance to ride the fence!

Isn't he about the cutest football fan you have ever seen?


Well, tomorrow is another day and we will see what it brings.  In the meantime, I am absolutely soaking up every moment I get to spend with my little peanut and doting hubby.  Life is good.